Re: [bolger] night time sailing
In a message dated 11/17/01 4:46:46 PM Central Standard Time,
ellengaest@...writes:
under power). (Different rules probably apply to Lake Superior and the
Mississippi.) I used to sail some lakes at night on a pretty regular basis.
In that time I never a) saw a "water-cop" after dark, and 2) never had to try
to alert any other boat to my presence. Its been a while, though, and times
may have changed.
Bill in MN
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
ellengaest@...writes:
> consoled myself with the thought thatThis was, perhaps still is, "legal" for inland MN lakes for sailboats (not
> I did have a large flash light to light up my sails at night should I
> encounter an approaching boat.
>
under power). (Different rules probably apply to Lake Superior and the
Mississippi.) I used to sail some lakes at night on a pretty regular basis.
In that time I never a) saw a "water-cop" after dark, and 2) never had to try
to alert any other boat to my presence. Its been a while, though, and times
may have changed.
Bill in MN
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Jamie and Pat,
Enjoyed your stories about being caught out in the dark although
it sounds like lights were really needed at the boat ramps instead of
the boats :-)
I once owned an Elver without any running lights.I used to sail
back home often in the dark and consoled myself with the thought that
I did have a large flash light to light up my sails at night should I
encounter an approaching boat.
Finding home is easy since the main channel has a wonderful range
formed by two lighthouses and can be spotted from a few miles out.
A very illuminating experience occurred the first night out.As I
was doing my best to focus on keeping the range lights over each other
despite a side-ways moving current while tending the sails,I did spot
the running lights of a big power cruiser heading my way from
behind.Moving the boat over to the edge of the channel so as to give
this fast moving boat lots of room,I reached down for my flashlight
and began aiming it at the mainsail. Within minutes,I could hear the
low rumble of his engines and the outline of the hull.Much to my
confusion,he too had moved over to the same side of the
channel!Realizing that there was no way on earth I could ever move
fast enough out of his way while cursing this stupid
son-of-an-un-wed-mother,I began frantically to flash my light all over
the sails.Still no change of course from the powerboat!Desperate and
begining to really fear collision,I aimed my light back into his
windshield which was frighteningly close now.Suddenly,there was a loud
blast from his horn and a huge swerving of the boat away from me.So
close did he pass my stern that I was able to make out his reg.numbers
and hear clearly the lyrical French chain of profanities directed at
me.I also was able to clearly see that this boat was from the same
yacht club as I.
Upon arriving at my quay,he was already there waiting for me.By
then,he had vented most of his spleen so intelligent discourse was
possible.
Well,as it turned out,since I had decided to go with tanbark
coloured sails for that oh-so-traditional-look,which did look good in
broad daylight,they did have one very serious disadvantage.They did
not reflect light as white sails surely would have.I was nothing more
then a dark blot on the water!
Over a few beers in the club house,we managed to console ourselves
with the knowledge that no-one got hurt and he even offered to give me
a set of portable emergency running lights!
I almost made the same mistake again when ordering the sails for
my Micro but remembered this experience just long enough to order the
white sails AND to install running lights.
Btw,one deep-cycle battery last me from 5 to 6 months and that
includes running reading lamps in the cabin.
That's my night time sailing story( one of them).
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan
Enjoyed your stories about being caught out in the dark although
it sounds like lights were really needed at the boat ramps instead of
the boats :-)
I once owned an Elver without any running lights.I used to sail
back home often in the dark and consoled myself with the thought that
I did have a large flash light to light up my sails at night should I
encounter an approaching boat.
Finding home is easy since the main channel has a wonderful range
formed by two lighthouses and can be spotted from a few miles out.
A very illuminating experience occurred the first night out.As I
was doing my best to focus on keeping the range lights over each other
despite a side-ways moving current while tending the sails,I did spot
the running lights of a big power cruiser heading my way from
behind.Moving the boat over to the edge of the channel so as to give
this fast moving boat lots of room,I reached down for my flashlight
and began aiming it at the mainsail. Within minutes,I could hear the
low rumble of his engines and the outline of the hull.Much to my
confusion,he too had moved over to the same side of the
channel!Realizing that there was no way on earth I could ever move
fast enough out of his way while cursing this stupid
son-of-an-un-wed-mother,I began frantically to flash my light all over
the sails.Still no change of course from the powerboat!Desperate and
begining to really fear collision,I aimed my light back into his
windshield which was frighteningly close now.Suddenly,there was a loud
blast from his horn and a huge swerving of the boat away from me.So
close did he pass my stern that I was able to make out his reg.numbers
and hear clearly the lyrical French chain of profanities directed at
me.I also was able to clearly see that this boat was from the same
yacht club as I.
Upon arriving at my quay,he was already there waiting for me.By
then,he had vented most of his spleen so intelligent discourse was
possible.
Well,as it turned out,since I had decided to go with tanbark
coloured sails for that oh-so-traditional-look,which did look good in
broad daylight,they did have one very serious disadvantage.They did
not reflect light as white sails surely would have.I was nothing more
then a dark blot on the water!
Over a few beers in the club house,we managed to console ourselves
with the knowledge that no-one got hurt and he even offered to give me
a set of portable emergency running lights!
I almost made the same mistake again when ordering the sails for
my Micro but remembered this experience just long enough to order the
white sails AND to install running lights.
Btw,one deep-cycle battery last me from 5 to 6 months and that
includes running reading lamps in the cabin.
That's my night time sailing story( one of them).
Sincerely,
Peter Lenihan